CELEBRATE JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE WITH COMMENTARIES ON THE JUDGMENTS OF DATO' SERI HISHAMUDIN YUNUS

Thursday 08/11/2018

DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir launches ‘Hishamudin Yunus: Celebrating Judicial Independence’KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- A book titled Hishamudin Yunus: Celebrating Judicial Independence, an insight into Dato’ Seri Hishamudin Yunus’ legal mind, was officially launched at the Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur this evening. The ceremony was attended by over 200 guests including members of the judiciary, academics and members of the legal fraternity. This book was published in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the law firm, Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (LHAG), where Dato’ Seri Hishamudin serves as a Consultant.

Dato’ Seri Hishamudin retired in 2015 as a Judge of the Court of Appeal and stands out as one of the rarer judges who firmly subscribed to judicial independence, for which he paid a hefty price. He was not elevated to the Federal Court by the previous government despite being the most senior Court of Appeal Judge at the material time. His commitment to judicial independence stems from his appreciation for an effective check and balance mechanism to ensure that the Executive and the Legislature act within their constitutional limits and that they uphold the rule of law.

Today, the new Government has appointed Dato’ Seri Hishamudin to sit on the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). Additionally, the Prime Minister has also appointed Dato’ Seri Hishamudin as the Chairman of the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) and the Chairman of the Taskforce on Foreign Workers.

A culmination of 29 contributors namely 18 partners from LHAG including senior partners Datuk D P Naban, Dato’ Nitin Nadkarni and Mr Rosli Dahlan, and 12 external contributors such as Emeritus Prof. Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi, Datuk V. Sithambaram, Mr Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan and Mr M. Puravalen, this book honours Dato’ Seri Hishamudin Yunus’ determination to uphold the law and record for posterity his fearless pursuit of justice. This book, which was edited by LHAG partner, Mr S. Saravana Kumar, discusses some of the landmark decisions of Dato’ Seri Hishamudin who has written more than 700 judgments during his 23 years on the bench.

Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus pursued his undergraduate and postgraduate education in law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is a Barrister-at-Law of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He commenced his legal profession at the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service where he served in various capacities including as the President of the Sessions Court, Deputy Public Prosecutor, State Legal Advisor, Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court. In 1992, he was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner and in 1994, as a High Court Judge. 15 years later, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal.